Schneider to leave regular ‘Parks’ role

Actor might recur in future seasons of NBC comedy

“Parks and Recreation” regular Paul Schneider will be leaving the NBC sitcom after this season, though he might recur on the series in 2010-11.

Schneider’s blossoming film career, in pics such as “Lars and the Real Girl,” “The Assassination of Jesse James,” “Away We Go” and “Bright Star,” made his longterm future in series television tenuous from the start. On top of that, his character of Mark Brendanawicz was conceived with the potential of being a short-timer, according to “Parks” exec producer Michael Schur.

Recently, Adam Scott (“Party Down”) was announced as a new regular on “Parks” (Daily Variety, March 5), and Rob Lowe will also be appearing on future episodes.